Cop tube holder



March 12, 1935. E, R, WAN ON 1 1,994,118

COP TUBE HOLDER Filed Oct. 13, 1933 and W Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITEDSTATES 1,994,118 cor was normal:

Ernest R. Swanson, Cranston, R. 1., assignor to Universal WindingCompany, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationOctober 13, 1933, Serial No. 693,523

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved mandrel or holder for supportingcop-tubes during the operation of winding yarn or thread thereon. Thepresent improvement relates particularly to a mandrel or holder of thetype shown and described in an application for United States LettersPatent, Serial No. 618,354, filed June 20, 1932, now Patent No.1,966,152, issued July 10,

1934, said holder being designed to support cop 10 tubes of thecontractible type covered with fabric sheaths as used for dyeing andsimilarly treating yarn masses wound thereon.

In the following specification and claims the term yarn is used in ageneral sense to indicate all kinds of textile materials and thedesignation "package is, intended to apply broadlyto any form of woundmass of such material.

The present invention has for a particular object to provide an improvedmandrel or holder for supporting contractible cop-tubes of the typeillustrated and described in United States Letters Patents No. 974,127to F. H. Daniell and J. C. Hebden, granted November 1, 1910, and Re. No.13,223 to F. H. Daniell, granted March 28, 1911.

: Such cop-tubes are widely used in the wellknown Franklin Process ofdyeing and similarly treating textiles. In its simplest form thecontractible cop-tubecomprises a helical coil or wire springconstituting a cylindrical, ribbed framework which is covered by asheath or stockinet of reticulated fabric. The yarn. is wound on thistype of tube directly upon the sheath or stockinet to producecylindrical or other forms of cops or packages suitable for dyeing andlike treatment by permeation of fluids into the material.

One object of the present invention is to provide a holder of the typeindicated for supporting porous cop-tubes to adapt them to be rotated ata high rate of speed in winding,the yarn thereon. Another object of theinvention is to provide a holder of the type indicated adapted tosupport the skeleton framework of the cop-tubeand having means forgripping the fabric sheath or stockinet at the ends thereof to stretchand hold it taut whereby to prevent its ends from being drawn inwardlyor displaced to interfere with the proper winding of the package.

Another object or the invention'is toprovide a holder of the typeindicated having radially projecting bearing portions at its endsadapted to rest against the driving drum during the initial stages ofthe winding to prevent the first .courses of yarn from contactingtherewith so as to eliminate pressure against and abrasive action on thewound material before the coils are cushioned by underlying courses orlayers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the typespecified which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and5 convenient in use for the purposes specified.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of theinvention, byway of example, as illustrated by 10 the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view of the present improved holder showing a contractiblecop-tube supported thereon and illustrating, in section, the yarn mass.wound upon the tube; 15

Fig. 2 is a view of the holder shown partly in section at one end andillustrating the cop-tube in longitudinal section; and

Fig. 3 is a view of the holder with the coptube shown in place thereonand the endmem- 20 bers of the holder illustrated in detached or disassembled relationship.

The present improved holder comprises, in general, means for supportinga contractible copcovering sheath or stockinet in stretched condi- 30tion to provide a uniformly smooth, level and substantially inflexiblesurface for receiving the yarn windings, said last-named means embodyingradially projecting annuli at the ends of the mandrel for effectingdriving contact with the drum 35 or drive-roll of the winding machineduring the initial stages of the winding.

In accordance with the present invention the sheath-gripping end membersof the holder are provided with annular flanges or bearing portions 40of greater diameter than the yarn-receiving body of the cop-tube wherebythe peripheries of said flanges will rest on the drum or drive-roll ofthe winding machine to prevent contact of the drum with the yarn firstwound on the tube. Through 45 this arrangement the first courses orlayers of winding are relieved of the frictional rubbing action of thedrum to prevent flattening, crushing, mashing or abrasion of the yarn..Ultlmately, when sufficient yarn has been wound on thet cop-tube tocushion the overlying layers, the

end flanges become inoperative and the surface of the yarn mass itselfcontacts with the drum to effect the drivingaction. I

Referring to theaccompanying drawing, in

the entire length of the tube.

Fig. 1 the reference numeral 2 indicates the holder in general and 3designates the cop-tube supported thereon with the yarn mass surroundingits periphery in the form of a cylindrical package shown in section andindicated by the reference character C. In the form of contractiblecoptube 3 herein illustrated the outer fabric sheath or stockinet 4 issupported by a skeleton framework constituted by a helically-coiled,flat band or spiral wire 5. The yarn may be wound on the cop-tube 3 inoverlying layers comprising crossing turns with each layer extendingsubstantially The package C is preferably wound with what is termed anopen wind, that is, with the yarn turns spaced slightly apart to renderthe mass sufliciently porous for the permeation of the dye liquor orother fluid thereinto during the dyeing or similar process to which itis subjected. With the present improved mandrel or cop-tube holder theyarn may be wound more uniformly in the first or starting layers of thepackage with the turns or convolutions .evenly distributed to obtainagreater uniformity of density in the mass whereby to improve theconditions for hydraulic or fluid treatment.

In drum-driven winding machines the coptube is supported on a mandrel orholder rotatably mounted adjacent a drive-roll or drum to adapt the tubefor peripheral contact with the latter to effect the driving operation.The yarn is deposited on the cop-tube by suitable traversing means suchas a helically grooved roll or a reciprocating thread-guide, to disposethe material in superimposed layers of helical turns.

As in the invention of the pending application before referred to thepresent improved cop-tube holder 2 is constituted by a cylindrical orother suitably shaped sleeve or mandrel 10 adapted to be received withinthe helical or otherwise ribbed framework of the cop-tube 3 and havingend members 11 by means of which it may be rotatably mounted on thespindle-of a winding machine. The end members 11 are detachable from thesleeve 10 and provided with means for gripping and binding the terminalportions of the fabric sheath 4 of the cop-tube 3 to the ends of thesleeve to hold it stretched longitudinally of its framework whereby toprovide an unbroken surface on the periphery of the tube.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the cylindricalshell or sleeve 10 is constructed of seamless tubing'and the cylindricalheads or end members 11 may be made of wood, fiber or any other suitablematerial. The end members ll'are bored axially at 13 with the diameterof the bore dimensioned to adapt it to freely fit the spindle on whichthe holder rotates. Preferably, the members 11 have counterbores intheir outer ends as shown at 15 in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. 1

Each end member or head 11 has a cylindrical portion adapted to fitwithin the end of the sleeve 10 and at its outer end is an annularflange 12. In accordance with the present invention the annular flange12 is made considerably .larger in diameter than the sleeve-10 to adaptit to project radially outward beyond the yarn-receiving surface of thecop-tube 3 held on the mandrel or holder 2. This construction providesthat the annular bearing portions or flanges 12 will bear against theperipheral surface of the winding machine drive-roll or drum, indicatedby dashlines in Fig. 2, to prevent the first layers of yarn wound ontothe tube 3 from contacting with the drum. In this manner a space is leftbetween the flanges 12 which may be filled with yarn during the firststages of the winding to provide a cushion for succeeding courses orlayers which bear directly on the surface of the driving drum.

As a convenient means for detachably secur ing the end members 11 to theends of the sleeve 10 the reduced cylindrical portion of each mem-,

ber is formed with screw threads 16 engageable with suitable means onthe interior of the sleeve. In the present construction the reducedportions of the end members 11 are provided with metal sheaths 14, forexample, lengths of seamless tubproviding for economical manufacture andat the same time insuring a firm joint between the parts.

The interior of the sleeve 10 is formed with rolled or embossed threadscorresponding to those on the end members 11 if desired, but preferablythe threads in-the sleeve are only partial. Re-

ferring to Fig. 3 of 'the drawing, the sleeve 10.is therein shown asbeing indented to provide relatively short angularly-disposedprojections 18 on its interior for engaging with the threads 16 on theend members 11. The end members or heads 11 are inserted into the endsof the sleeve 10 and by imparting a slight relative rotative movementthereto the threads 16 will engage with the projections 18 to draw theend members into place with the shoulders of their flanges 12 engagingsnugly against the ends of the sleeve. The reduced body portions of theend members ll'flt rather loosely within the ends of the sleeve 10whereof the terminal portions of the fabric sleeve or stockinet 4 may befolded or tucked into the open ends of the holder and bound in place bythe flanges 1-2 on the end members.

As a feature of improvement over the device of the pending applicationbefore referred to, the flanges 12 of the end members 11 are'grooved ontheir inner faces adjacent their body portions to form annular recesses20 for receiving and enclosing the ends of the cop-tube 3 when the endmembers are assembled in place on theholder 2. The inner wall of therecessed groove 20 in each end member '11' is adapted to engage againsttheinturned portion of the fabric sheath 4 to grip the latter to the endof the sleeve 10 in the manner as later more fully explained. In use theimproved cop-holder operates as follows:

The cop-tube 3, consisting of the skeleton framework or helical spring 5covered by the fabric sheath or stockinet 4,. is slipped into place onthe sleeve 10 of the holder 2, and usually the sleeve is made somewhatshorter than the normally extended lengthof the spring so that thelatter will be contracted longitudinally to a slight extent when held inplace on the holder. After the cop-tube 3 has been placed on the sleeve10 the terminal portions of the stockinet 4 which overhang the ends ofthe spring 5 are folded or tucked into the ends of the sleeve asindicated at the right in Fig. 3. Qneend member or plug 11 is theninserted into the end of the sleeve 10 to engage its threads 16 with theprojections 18 on the interior thereof and by giving the end member aslight rotative movement it is drawn operators fingers.

into the sleeve to cause the inner wall of the recess'20 in the flange12 to bind the inturned portion of the stockinet 4 against the end ofthe sleeve 10. Referring to Fig. 2, when the end member 11 is assembledin place in the manner asabove explained the end of the stockinet 4 andspring 5 are enclosed and protected by the overhanging portion of theflange 12.

The fabric sheath or stockinet 4 is next drawn taut toward the oppositeend of the sleeve and this end of the stockinet tucked into place whilethe fabric is held in stretched condition by the I The other end member11 is then screwed into place in the manner as previously explained tobind this end of the stockinet l between the inner wall of the recess 20in the flange l2 and the end of the sleeve 10. With the two end members11 screwed snugly intoplace the-outer fabric sheath or stockinet i willbe held in stretched condition between the ends of the sleeve 10 toprovide a smooth unbroken surface on the periphery of the cop-tube forreceiving the yarn windings. With the end members 11 applied to theholder 2 in the manner as above explained the flanges 12 act to effect aslight contraction in the length of the helical spring 5 or framework ofthe tube 3 whereby its ends will be 'frictionally engaged with theflanges to connect the parts for unitary rotation.

The holder 2 and its assembled cop-tube 3 may be placed on thewinding-spindle by inserting the latter through the-bores l3"in the endmembers 11 to provide for rotation of the con-tube with its holder. Ifdesired, the end members ll-m'ay be constructed of lubricant-impregnatedmaterial soas to provide oil-less bearings for the cop- 'tube holder onthe winding or other machine.

. After the cop-holder 2 is mountedto rotate on the winding-spindlethe'latter is placed in position to bring the peripheries of the annularbearing portions or flanges 12 of the members 11 against the peripheryof the drum or drive-roll. The holder 2 will then be rotated byfrictional contact of the flanges 12 with the surface of the drum towind the yarn onto the main portion of the cop-tube 2 extending betweenthe flanges. As the support 2 is rotated from the drivingdrum thethread-guide traverses the yarn on the coptube 3 between the flanges 12to deposit it in helical turns which cross and recross each other tobuild up superimposed layers.

During the initial stages of the winding the package on the drum withthe flanges 12 raised away from the drum. As the winding continues thepressure of the drum on the yarn is cushioned by the first layers ofcoils wound on the top-tube 3 between the flanges 12 so that there willbe little tendency to flatten and crush the yarn or to abrade itssurface as would be the case i! the first turns of the winding werecompressed between the surface of the driving drum and'the cop-tube 3. I

During the winding operation the overhanging portions of the flanges 12on the endmembers 11 serve to cover and protect the ends of thecontractible support 5 and its sheath or stockinet 4. Through thisprovision the ends of the stockinet or fabric sheath are held againstloosening and and withdrawn from the sleeve 10 of the holder 2 and thecop-tube 3 may then be removed and the package applied to the dyeing orother process for which the yarn has been prepared.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a cop-holder or sup- .port embodying means for eliminating thedeleterious action of the driving drum on the yarn during the initialstages of winding the package whereby to prevent injury to the materialor impairment of its quality. The invention is particularly well adaptedfor winding soft, lofty yarns which may not be subjected to anyconsiderable flattening or frictional abrasion without injury to thematerial.

As a further feature of improvement the invention provides means forgripping and protecting the ends of the fabric stockinet or sheath toprevent it from being drawn into the coils of the winding to impair theuniformity of the wound packageand interfere with the proper delivery ofthe material therefrom during subsequent processes.

While the improved device is herein described and illustrated asembodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understoodthat modiflcations may be made in the structure and arrangement of itsparts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Therefore,

mandrel provided with members at its ends having annular bearingportions projecting radially beyond the periphery of the cop-tubemounted on the mandrel to adapt them to bear against the driving drum ofa winding machine to prevent contact of thedrum with the yarn wound onthe tube during the initial stages of the winding, at least one of saidmembers being removable from the mandrel to permit the tube to be placedthereon.

2. A holder for cop-tubes and the like comprising a mandrel adapted tofit within the tube to support the latter, and end members attachable tothe ends of the mandrel and provided with annular abutments projectingradially beyond the periphery of the cop-tube to adapt them to bear.against the driving drum of a winding machine to prevent contact of thedrum with the yarn wound on the tube during the initial stages of thewinding.

3. A holder for cop-tubes or the like comprising a hollow mandrel, andend members releasably attachable to the ends of the mandrel andprovided with annular flanges projecting radially beyond the peripheryof the cop-tube held on the mandrel to adapt them to bear against thedriving drum of a winding machine to prevent contact of the drum withthe yarn wound on the tube-during the initial stages of the winding.

4. In a holder for a cop-tube embodying an outer flexible sheath, thecombination of a hollow mandrel for supporting said cop-tube with theterminal portions of the sheath disposed within the ends of saidmandrel, and end members attachable to the ends of the mandrel andprovided with flanges adapted to grip the sheath against the ends of themandrel, said flanges projecting beyond the periphery of the cop-tube toadapted them to bear against the drum of a winding machine during theinitial stages of the winding.

5. In a holder for a cop-tube embodying an outer flexible sheath, thecombination of a mandrel adapted to fit within the tube, end membersattachable to the ends of the mandrel and provided with radiallyprojecting flanges having recessed portions adapted to overlie the endsof the tube mounted on the mandrel.

6. In a holder for a cop-tube embodying an outer flexible sheath, thecombination of a mandrel adapted to fit within the cop-tube and havingopenings at its ends Ior securing the terminal portions of the sheath,and end members attachable to the ends of the mandrel and provided withradially projecting flanges, said flanges formed with recesses forreceiving the ends of the cop-tube to bind the inturned portions of thesheath against the endsyof the mandrel to hold the sheath in stretchedcondition.

7. In combination, a contractible cop-tube comprising a frameworkenclosetd by a flexible porous sheath, and a holder herefor comprising arigid mandrel fitted to the interior of the tube, and end membersdetachably s ed to the ends of the mandrel and having radiallyprojecting flanges abutting thereagainst and -formed with annularrecesses for receiving the nds 0! the

